Victoria Police to issue wristbands to curb underage drinking during cricket matches at MCG

Melbourne, Jan.14 (ANI): Wrist bands have been added to the police armoury in an attempt to stop underage drinking during cricket matches at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG).

Fans who want a cold one at Friday's One Day International will have to produce photo ID and collect a wristband as part of the new ystem being introduced to prevent underage drinking.

•   E-mail Article
•   Printer Friendly
•   Text-Size    

According to the Herald Sun, there will be eight wristbands booths at the MCG. It is hoped the new system will assist staff in establishing proof of age, and means patrons will no longer have to produce ID every time they want to purchase alcohol at the bar.

Any underage patrons flashing fake ID for a wristband will face an on-the-spot fine, with Victoria Police and Vic Roads on-site to identify bogus IDs.

Patrons arriving at the booth drunk will also be refused a wristband, and could face possible ejection from the ground.

Superintendent Trevor Parks from Major Events said Victoria Police has been working very closely with Cricket Australia to introduce the new measures.

"This procedure has already been extremely successful at other major events throughout Victoria and has assisted police in identifying underage patrons," Parks said.

One booth will be located outside the MCG near gate five, with the other seven booths located inside the ground in the Olympic, Ponsford and Great Southern Stands.

All booths inside the ground will be located on level one.

Superintendent Parks said in addition to the new wristband procedure, police would continue to eject any troublemakers from the ground and issue them with on-the-spot fines where possible.

Police can issue fines for using profane, indecent or obscene language, using threatening, abuse or insulting words, and behaving in a riotous, indecent, offensive or insulting manner.

Each penalty notice carries a 227-dollar on-the-spot fine that will be processed at the mobile police facility located outside gate six. (ANI)